High-throughput analysis of GST-fusion protein expression and activity-dependent protein interactions on GST-fusion protein arrays with a spectral surface plasmon resonance biosensor

We modified gold arrays with a glutathione (GSH) surface, and investigated high-throughput protein interactions with a spectral surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. We fabricated the GSH exterior on gold surfaces by successive modification with aminoethanethiol, 4-maleimidobutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and GSH. We immobilized GST-Rac1, GST-RhoA, the GST-Rho-binding domain of rhotekin and the GST-p21-binding domain of PAK1 onto the GSH surface, and observed specific antigen-antibody interactions on the GST-fusion protein arrays. We determined the expression of GST-fusion proteins in Escherichia coli on the GSH surface with the SPR biosensor. We then analyzed the interactions of tissue transglutaminase (tTGase), a Ca2+-dependent enzyme, with RhoA and Rac1 on the GST-fusion protein arrays with the SPR biosensor. We found that tTGase interacted with RhoA and Rac1 in a Ca2+-dependent manner, indicating that the interactions were dependent on tTGase activity. In addition, transamidation of Rac1 by tTGase was dependent on Ca2+ concentration. We obtained similar results with GST pull-down assays. Thus, protein arrays prepared on the GSH surface provide a useful system for the high-throughput analysis of GST-fusion protein expression and activity-dependent protein interactions with the spectral SPR biosensors.